Cookbook Picks for Holiday Gifts 2009

2009 Cookbook Picks for Holiday Gifts Cookbooks are always a great gift for the foodies on your holiday shopping list. We've put together a list of 30 books that fit a wide range of cooking skills and interests. Some are brand new this fall, while others have proven their worth over time. Topics range from baking and desserts to international cuisine and everything in between. They're all arranged alphabetically by title with a section of our Editor's Picks at the top. These are the books we own ourselves and can recommend first hand.

Cooking the Cowboy Way • by Grady Spears with June Naylor
~ $19.79 from Amazon.com

Cooking the Cowboy Way: Recipes Inspired by Campfires, Chuck Wagons, and Ranch Kitchens contains over 100 recipes collected by cowboy-turned-chef Grady Spears from various ranchers in the U.S. and Canada. The book contains a flavorful array of unique recipes like Candied Bacon with Goat Cheese, Roasted Oysters with Tropical Pico and Lamb Tenderloin with Green Olive Jam, as well as home-style choices like Ranch Potato Pancakes and Autumn Pear Crisp. Fabulous photos, background information on the various ranches and personal comments from the contributors make this book is a wonderful exploration of a unique culinary culture. {shop now}

Food to Live By • by Myra Goodman, Linda Holland & Pamela McKinstry
~ $14.93 from Amazon

Earthbound Farm first started growing organic produce in 1984, when the term "organic" wasn't really even on consumers' radar. Now, for many people, eating organic foods is a way of life. Food to Live By: The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook is filled with beautifully photographed recipes including everything from breakfast through dessert - the first chapter is even dedicated solely to their first crop, raspberries. You'll find shopping tips, prep notes, "field guides" to various produce and "Farm Fresh" information boxes throughout, so anyone who wants to learn more about incorporating organic foods into their daily lives should have this essential book on hand. {shop now}

The Flavor Bible • by Karen Page & Andrew Dornenburg
~ $23.10 from Amazon

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs is an unbelievably handy reference that no kitchen should be without. All types of cuisines and ingredients - from cheeses to vegetables, French cuisine to nuts, fruits, meats, spices and more - are listed alphabetically, along with their corresponding flavor affinities. Look up an ingredient and you'll find a list of its complementing flavors, with the most highly recommended flavors noted in bold and caps. Additionally, quotes and suggestions from some of the world's finest professional chefs are found throughout the book, helping to make this an indispensable volume for both novice and experienced home cooks. {shop now}

Michael Symon's Live To Cook • by Michael Symon with Michael Ruhlman
~ $23.10 from Amazon

Michael Symon's strong family roots and rich ethnic heritage provide much of the inspiration for the innovative cooking style that has earned him the title of Iron Chef. His first cookbook, Michael Symon's Live To Cook: Recipes And Techniques To Rock Your Kitchen is a collection of his favorite dishes, drawn from his Greek, Italian and Eastern European background. Recipes include amazing dishes like Sheep's-Milk Ravioli with Brown Butter and Almonds, Spicy Tomato and Blue Cheese Soup, Braised Pork Belly with Soft Polenta and Seared Mushrooms, as well as basics like fresh pasta dough and homemade sausages, pickles and condiments. Chef Symon also shares a wealth of information on techniques like caramelizing, proper salting, seasoning basics and how to balance flavors, making this book a must-have for anyone serious about good food. {shop now}

My Bread • by Jim Lahey
~ $17.51 from Amazon

Jim Lahey's no-knead method for making richly flavored, rustic bread with minimal effort has helped revive the practice of baking bread at home. In his new book, My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method, Lahey shares his recipes for a variety of specialty breads, pizzas and focaccias, all using his famed no-work method. In addition to classics like whole wheat and rye breads, there are creative choices like Coconut-Chocolate Bread, Fennel-Raisin Bread, Irish Brown Bread and Peanut Butter and Jelly Bread. Also included is his recipe for no-knead pizza dough and a variety of topping ideas to go with it. A chapter entitled "The Art of the Sandwich" provides some delicious ideas for putting that freshly baked loaf to use, and the final chapter tells how to use stale bread to make salads, soups and desserts. Comprehensive and practical, My Bread is bound to become a favorite guide to bread baking. {shop now}

Southeast Asian Flavors • by Robert Dahni
~ $30.00 from SoutheastAsianFlavors.com

Southeast Asian Flavors is an amazingly comprehensive and captivating guide to the foods of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. Chef-photographer Robert Dahni provides an unsurpassed tour of the Southeast Asian pantry and an invaluable section called "Cooking Techniques for Building Southeast Asian Flavors" that explores the culinary fundamentals of the region. Subsequent chapters focus on the individual cuisines with recipes and numerous "How and Why" excerpts explaining techniques that will elevate all of your cooking to new levels. More than 100 recipes are accompanied by the author's notes and 700 photographs of the food, people and landscapes of Southeast Asia. For the cook who loves Asian food and wants to understand its allure and prepare it successfully, Southeast Asian Flavors is an essential addition to his or her cookbook collection. {shop now}

The Use It Up Cookbook • by Catherine Kitcho
~ $13.22 from Amazon

The Use It Up Cookbook: Creative Recipes for the Frugal Cook is a handy kitchen reference that contains more than 125 recipes using ingredients that are frequently left over from other dishes and often go to waste. Perfect for small households, each chapter focuses on a single ingredient like tomato paste, cheese, applesauce and cooked rice, to name just a few. There are recipe styles to suit every taste, including comfort foods, light and healthy alternatives, and creative gourmet combinations. The book includes pages at the end of each chapter for jotting down your own notes and recipes, and a concise guide to proper food storage provides information to help keep track of what's in your pantry. {shop now}

Venezia • by Tessa Kiros
~ $23.09 from Amazon

Venezia: Food and Dreams is more than a simple cookbook, it is an artistic, cultural and culinary exploration of the city of Venice. A positively beautiful volume with artistic lettering, gold-trimmed pages, amazing food photographs and insightful shots of the city and its people, the book provides a well-rounded view of Venice and its artful food traditions. The recipes are simple, straightforward and make the most of the area's abundant supply of fresh fish and seafood. Beautiful dishes like Fish Carpaccio with Pink Peppercorns, Crab Linguini and Seafood Lasagne are among the more than 100 recipes, each prefaced with detailed notes and advice from the author. Venezia is a treasured addition to the library of those who appreciate the culture and fine food of Italy. {shop now}

Wine Secrets • by Marnie Old
~ $13.57 from Amazon

In Wine Secrets: Advice from Winemakers, Sommeliers & Connoisseurs, author and sommelier Marnie Old has compiled an assortment of invaluable tips from forty renowned wine experts and assembled them in a book well-suited for the average wine drinker. Wine basics, tasting and food pairing information, shopping guidelines and tips for preserving and storing are just a few of the topics organized into an easy reading tip-style format. A summary of each tip precedes the details making it simple to find the information you're looking for. Whether you read Wine Secrets straight through or use it as a reference, this book is sure to enhance your enjoyment of wine. {shop now}

The Adaptable Feast • by Ivy Manning
~ $16.29 from Amazon

The Adaptable Feast: Satisfying Meals for the Vegetarians, Vegans and Omnivores at Your Table is an essential guide for anyone who faces the challenge of cooking for both people who love meat and those who don't. After omnivore author Ivy Manning married a vegetarian, she set to work on developing a collection of recipes that can easily be adapted to include servings for both "dietary persuasions." In this book she shares 90 of her recipes, including Haloumi and Chicken Souvlaki Skewers, Japanese Eggplant and Halibut with Miso Glaze and Quinoa-Stuffed Heirloom Tomatoes with Romesco Sauce. {shop now}

The Baking Answer Book • by Lauren Chattman
~ $10.17 from Amazon

The Baking Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask is a one-stop reference that provides foolproof solutions to questions about baking ingredients, equipment and methods. Author and former professional pastry chef Lauren Chattman also shares some recipes that focus on new techniques and unusual ingredients as well as some interesting insight into the history of some favorite baked goods. This book is a great one to have on hand whenever the mood to bake strikes you. {shop now}

The Bubbly Bar • by Maria C. Hunt
~ $12.23 from Amazon

Food and drink writer Maria Hunt shares more than 57 inventive and delicious sparkling wine and champagne cocktails that are easy for home bartenders to serve. The Bubbly Bar: Champagne & Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion includes classic recipes, as well as more unusual cocktails, punches, sangrias and dessert drinks using the best bubbly beverages from around the globe. The book also includes a section on making your own natural infusions and mixers, as well as plenty of beautiful color photos. {shop now}

Buonissimo! • by Gino D'Acampo
~ $13.57 from Amazon

Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo wanted to create a cookbook that would "suit every kind of person, for every type of meal." His new cookbook, Buonissimo!: Italian Food Has Never Been So Sexy does just that. Uniquely organized by occasion and situation, rather than by ingredient or course, the first chapter focuses on romantic recipes for two, with subsequent chapters on cooking for one, everyday suppers, impressive but easy recipes and make-ahead recipes for entertaining. Modern takes on traditional Italian dishes like Rigatoni with White Ragu and Stuffed Focaccia With Spinach, Olives and Mozzarella are simple and unpretentious - an inspiring collection for anyone who loves Italian food. {shop now}

Cafe Firenze Cookbook • by Favio Viviani & Jacopo Falleni
~ $19.79 from Amazon

The Cafe Firenze Cookbook: Food and Drink Recipes from the Tuscan Sons is a unique collaboration between former Top Chef contender Chef Fabio Viviani and award-winning mixologist Jacopo Falleni. The book is organized by course and each authentic Tuscan-style recipe is paired with an original martini recipe. Personal anecdotes, tips for choosing ingredients and garnishing instructions augment each chapter, and there are beautiful photos by Antonio Busiello throughout the book. The Cafe Firenze Cookbook is a wonderful choice to help you explore the exciting world of cocktail and food pairing. {shop now}

Carmine's Family Style Cookbook • by Michael Ronis
~ $19.77 from Amazon

Carmine's Family Style Cookbook: More Than 100 Classic Italian Dishes to Make at Home is an homage to the fine Italian cuisine served at Carmine's flagship restaurant in Times Square. Carmine's shows that the secret to amazingly rich and hearty Italian food is quality ingredients and simple preparations. {shop now}

A Century Of Flavors • by Nielsen Massey Vanillas
~ $21.24 from Amazon

A Century of Flavors by Nielsen Massey Vanillas is a unique collection of recipes from both the Nielsen family and chef friends who've been inspired by the flavor and quality of the company's fine vanilla extracts. In addition to the expected selection of pastries and baked goods, the book has recipes that incorporate vanilla into a variety of savory dishes. The volume is a nice choice for the creative home chef looking for some new and interesting dishes. {shop now}

DamGood Sweet • by David Guas & Raquel Pelzel
~ $16.50 from Amazon

Everyone should own at least one cookbook filled with deliciously indulgent Southern-style desserts and DamGood Sweet: Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth, New Orleans Style fits the description to a tee. The authors have gathered 50 amazing dessert recipes including Bananas Foster, Lemon Icebox Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake, Café au Lait Crème Brûlée, and Pecan and Brown Butter Ice Cream, to name a few. Filled with beautiful photos, cooking tips and background stories, this book is a gem in the world of dessert cookbooks. {shop now}

Elegantly Easy Creme Brulee • by Debbie Puente
~ $5.98 from Amazon

Elegantly Easy Crème Brûlée,: & Other Custard Desserts is an interesting book in that it focuses on the many ways in which one classic dish can be adapted to complement a variety of meals. Among the 70 recipes are a number of savory renditions like Caramelized Maui Onion Crème Brûlée and Ginger Chile Crème Brûlée. Creative dessert variations include Orange Cardamom Crème Brûlée and Persimmon and Spice Crème Brûlée. Add this book to your collection, and you'll never be left wanting for a dessert recipe again. {shop now}

Family Feasts For $75 A Week • by Mary Ostyn
~ $12.21 from Amazon

Family Feasts for $75 a Week: A Penny-wise Mom Shares Her Recipe for Cutting Hundreds from Your Monthly Food Bill is more than just a cookbook. Written by a mother of ten, it's filled with tips on shopping smart and planning healthy meals that make the most of budget-friendly ingredients without compromising good taste. No matter how big or small your family, this book offers great advice on how to maximize your grocery budget by setting goals and using good common sense. {shop now}

Fresh Traditions • by Jorj Morgan
~ $24.95 from Amazon

When life gets too hectic for lengthy preparations or complicated recipes, Fresh Traditions: Classic Dishes for a Contemporary Lifestyle can come to your rescue. The cookbook takes classic recipes and transforms them into well-written and easy-to-follow directions that can be prepared more quickly and with less stress. Morgan delivers more than 300 recipes with plenty of relevant information about the ingredients and techniques necessary to whip up a meal that still maintains its roots from the classic dish. {shop now}

Freshman In The Kitchen • by Max Sussman & Eli Sussman
~ $12.21 from Amazon

Thanks to Freshman in the Kitchen, there's no reason why college students or other novice cooks need to subsist on takeout and frozen meals. The two-brother team, Eli and Max Sussman, collaborated to create a unique "how-to" guide for cooks at all levels. Freshman is an especially good choice for first-time cooks because it instills a passion for cooking while also keeping budget in mind. {shop now}

Gale Gand's Brunch • by Gale Gand & Christie Matheson
~ $18.15 from Amazon

In Gale Gand's Brunch: 100 Fantastic Recipes for the Weekend's Best Meal, renowned pastry chef Gale Gand proves that brunch is an excellent way to entertain guests in a relaxed and easy fashion. She's put together a collection of recipes that turn traditional breakfast fare into company-worthy treats using simple ingredients and techniques. The book covers beverages, omelets, pancakes, waffles, muffins and more, adding twists and variations that make for a truly special meal. {shop now}

The Healthy Hedonist Holidays • by Myra Kornfeld
~ $15.56 from Amazon

THE HEALTHY HEDONIST HOLIDAYS: A Year of Multi-Cultural, Vegetarian-Friendly Holiday Feasts is all about creating "flexitarian" holiday meals with a unique ethnic spin that cater to a variety of types of eaters. Rather than hosting extravagant holiday gatherings that leave guests feeling overstuffed and the chef feeling overwhelmed, Kornfeld offers 15 festive and healthy alternative menus that will appease every palate. {shop now}

Ice Cream! The Whole Scoop • by Gail Damerow
~ $14.93 from Amazon

Everyone loves ice cream, and Ice Cream! The Whole Scoop gives us an in-depth look into our favorite frozen desserts. In addition to hundreds of recipes for gourmet ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbets, this books also provides a definitive "how-to" guide on using ice cream makers. Damerow's book would make a great gift for anyone getting an ice cream maker this holiday season. {shop now}

Modern Spice • by Monica Bhide
~ $16.50 from Amazon

Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen is an indispensable guide for bringing the essence of traditional Indian cuisine to the American table. The book includes a thorough glossary of classic Indian ingredients and spices, recipes for chutneys and marinades, unique cocktails and delicious dishes like Acorn Squash with Five Spices, Tamarind-Glazed Honey Shrimp, Indian-Style Chili and many more. Each recipe is prefaced with a bit of background information and the straight-forward instructions should make serving the pungent flavors of Indian cuisine an easy task. {shop now}

New England Soup Factory Cookbook • by Marjorie Druker & Clara Silverstein
~ $15.74 from Amazon

Chef Marjorie Druker of the New England Soup Factory restaurant has compiled a collection of customer's favorite soup recipes that combine fresh flavors and seasonal ingredients in both classic and creative ways. In addition to solid instructions for preparing delicious homemade stocks and classic soups like chicken noodle, the New England Soup Factory Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes from the Nation's Best Purveyor of Fine Soup includes recipes for sophisticated creations like Pumpkin and Cranberry Soup; Eggplant, Roasted Red Pepper and Mint Soup; and Seafood Gazpacho. The wide range of recipe styles, simple instructions and beautiful photography make this book a delicious addition to any soup-lover's library. {shop now}

Rose's Heavenly Cakes • by Rose Levy Beranbaum
~ $21.57 from Amazon

Rose Levy Beranbaum is renowned for her bestselling cookbook, The Cake Bible, and now, 20 years later, Rose's Heavenly Cakes is set to introduce a new generation of bakers to her expertise. The book has 104 foolproof and well-tested recipes and beautiful full-color photos throughout to help home bakers learn key techniques and achieve perfect results every time. {shop now}

The South American Table • by Maria Baez Kijac
~ $12.98 from eCookbooks.com

The South American Table: The Flavor and Soul of Authentic Home Cooking from Patagonia to Rio De Janeiro is a definitive guide to the true flavors of South American cuisine. The book is a culmination of 15 years of research and features more than 400 recipes from ten different countries. Chapters cover everything from appetizers to desserts, and the author has also included a detailed glossary of South American ingredients. Recipes are preceded with ingredient and cultural information, providing valuable insight for anyone wanting to explore these unique culinary traditions. {shop now}

The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook • by Jaden Hair
~ $18.45 from Amazon

The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook: 101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight's Dinner, is a terrific collection of both classic and innovative Asian recipes, accompanied by stunning photos and numerous how-to tips. An introductory section with recipes for Asian dipping sauces, condiments, stocks and flavored oils is followed by chapters that include recipes of Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean origin. The deliciously well-rounded selection makes it easy for anyone to include great Asian meals in their regular kitchen repertoire. {shop now}

The Vegan Table • by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
~ $13.59 from Amazon

The Vegan Table is filled with tips, themed menus and full-color photos of recipes that support the vegan lifestyle. Featuring dishes from global cuisines including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Asian, Indian and African, it provides excellent advice for those seeking to entertain vegan guests with menus for every occasion and season. Patrick-Goudreau's book is a fantastic gift for both those new to the diet and those looking to expand their vegan-friendly repertoire. {shop now}